Power oscillated cradles



071.23, 1956 D. J. RING 2,767,799

POWER OSCILLATED CRADLES v Filed May 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. 04m; J fim a Oct. 23, 1956 D. J. RING 2,767;799

POWER OSIGILLATED cRAbLEs Filed May 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

flay/o J fix/ve United States Patent POWER OSCILLATED CRADLES David J. Ring, Denver, Colo.

Application May 4, 1955, Serial No. 505,863

2 Claims. (Cl. 180-1) This invention relates to a combination portable cradle for children and has for its :principal object the provision of a simple and efficient -electrically operated mechanism for rolling the :cradle back and forth on the floor to produce a sleep inducing motion.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the operating mechanism :that it may also be used to impart a rocking motion to the cradle either in combination with -or independent of the rolling motion thereof so that a child may be rocked to sleep without manual effort.

A further object :of the invention is to provide means whereby the electrically operated mechanism may be quickly and easily disconnected so that the cradle can be manually rolled -'or rocked when desired.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, economy, and-efiiciency. These will become more apparent from the following description.

In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals refer to like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout the description.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a side view of the improved electric cradle;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section, taken on the line 22, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a similarly enlarged longitudinal section, taken on the line 33, Fig. 2;

Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sectional views illustrating two shaft assemblies employed in the improved cradle; and

Fig. 6 is an end view of the improved cradle on the scale of Fig. 1 partially broken away to show the interior construction. The broken away portion illustrates'a sectional view, taken on the line 6--6, Fig. 1.

The improved cradle is constructed upon a base board or platform 10. A drive axle 11 and an idler axle 12 extend transversally across the platform 10 in spaced-apart relation. The axles 11 and 12 terminate in floor-engaging wheels 13 and each axle is rotatably mounted in suitable pillow blocks 14 secured to the platform 10. The axles are provided with set collars 15 secured thereon in any suitable manner, as by set screws 16, so as to abut pillow blocks 14, thus preventing longitudinal movement of the axles. Wheels 13 are attached to axle 11 in any suitable manner so as to rotate therewith.

Two rigid end boards 17 are secured to and arise from the platform 10 adjacent the ends thereof. Receptacle boxes 18 may be formed between the ends of the platform 10 and the end boards 17 to conveniently carry articles for the childs use. The end boards support aligned hearing studs 19 from which a cradle box 20 is swingingly suspended. A mechanism housing 21 covers an operating mechanism between the two end boards.

The operating mechanism is driven from a suitable electric motor 22 to which current is supplied by means of a conductor cord 23 controlled by an electric switch 24 and a speed control rheostat 25.

2,767,799 Patented Oct. 23, 1956 "ice The motor is'of the type provided with a speed reducer 26 which drives a crank disc 27 at reduced speed.

A connecting rod 28 extends between a crank pin .29 on the disc and an actuating lever 30 fixed on a first drive shaft 31 rotatably mounted in a pillow block bearing .32. It can be seen that as the crank disc 27 rotates, .it will impart a continuous oscillating motion to the drive shaft 31.

The oscillating motion is transmitted through the :medium of a fixed sprocket 33 and a transmission chain 34 to a second sprocket 35 aflixed on a second drive shaft 36 rotatably mounted in a pillow block bearing 37. 7 Thus, the two drive shafts 31 and 36 oscillate back and forth in unison under the power of the motor 22.

Power is transmitted from the first power shaft 31 to a first countershaft 38, mounted in a bearing 48 in axial alignment with the first drive shaft, through the medium of a sliding clutch member 39 which is constantly urged, by means of a spring 46, to engage a clutch pin 41 fixed in the countershaft 38. The clutch member 39 is caused to continually rotate with the first drive shaft 31 through the medium of a key pin 42. The clutch member 39 can be moved out of engagement with the clutch pin 41 by means of a clutch yoke lever 43 which is pivoted intermediate its extremities on a'pivot stud 44, and which is connected, by means 'of a control rod 45, with a-control knob 46 on the exterior of the housing 21.

A latch tooth 4'7 is provided to hold the control rod 45 in the withdrawn position so as to maintain the clutch member 39 out of engagement with the clutch pin 4;! when desired. Thus, it can be seen that the .firstcountershaft 38 can be disconnected from the first drive shaft 31 whenever desired by simply pulling the knob 46 outwardly and looking it by means of the tooth 47, or in-any other desired manner.

A second countershaft 49 is supported in axial alignment with the second drive shaft 36 by means of a bearing 50, and may be detachably connected with the second drive shaft through the medium of a second sliding clutch member 51 which is urged into engagement with a clutch pin 52 in the countershaft 49 through the medium of a clutch spring 53. The second clutch member 51 is caused to continuously rotate with the second drive shaft 36 through the medium of a key pin 54. The second clutch member 51 can be slid out of engagement with the clutch pin 52 through the medium of a second clutch yoke 55 pivoted on a vertical pivot stud 56 extending upwardly from the platform 10. The second clutch yoke is actuated through the medium of a second control rod 57 extending to a second knob 58 on the exterior of the housing 21. The second control rod can also be locked so that the second countershaft 49 will remain stationary through the medium of a second latch tooth 59 formed thereon.

The second countershaft 49 transmits an oscillatory movement to the drive axle 11 through the medium of a drive sprocket 60, a drive chain 61, and a driven sprocket 62. The sprockets 6t) and 62 are fixed to their respective shafts by means of suitable set screws 63.

The oscillatory movement of the first countershaft 38 is transmitted to a third countershaft 64 which is maintained in axial alignment with the second countershaft by means of the bearing 50 and a bearing 79. The transmission is accomplished through the medium of a drive crank 65, a driven crank 66, and a connecting rod 67. The cranks 66 and 65 are fixed on their respective shafts in any desired manner, such as by means of suitable set screws. The bearings 32, 37, 48, 5t) and 79 are supported above the platform 10 upon suitable blocks 78 to provide clearance for the gears.

The oscillating movement of the third countershaft 64 is transmitted to a crank hub 68 which is rotatably mountwheeled by hand on the wheels 13.

ed on the drive axle 11 and maintained in longitudinal position thereon by means of a set collar 69 through the medium of a drive sprocket 70 afiixed to the shaft 64, a drive chain 71, and a driven sprocket 72 affixed to the hub 68. The hub 68 is provided with a radially projecting lever 73 from which a connecting rod 74 extends upwardly to a crank lever 75 projecting from a flanged hub member 76 which rotatably surrounds one of the studs 19 and which is fixedly secured to one end of the cradle box 20.

It can be seen that if the clutch member 39 is in engagement with the clutch pin 41, an oscillatory motion will be transmitted from the first countershaft 38 through the connecting rod 67 to the third countershaft 64 and through the chain 71 to the actuating lever 73, and from thence to the connecting rod 74, the lever 75, and the hub member 76 to the cradle box 20 to gently rock the latter back and forth about the axes of the studs 19.

If both control rods 45 and 57 are withdrawn, all of the countershafts will be free to rotate, so that the cradle box can be rocked by hand or the entire cradle can be If it is only desired to move the cradle back and forth on its wheels, the control rod 45 is maintained withdrawn and the control rod 57 is released, and if it is only desired to rock the cradle without the wheel movement, the control rod 57 is withdrawn and the control rod 45 is released. Therefore, any desired combination of movements may be obtained.

The driven crank 66 and the drive crank 65 are provided with a plurality of pin-receiving openings 77 into which the connecting rod 67 can be adjustably connected to vary the magnitude of the rocking motion of the cradle 20. The rheostat 25 gives speed control of the motor so that the speed and intensity of all movements can be accurately adjusted to provide a gentle, sleep-inducing motion.

While a specific form of the improvement has been described and illustrated herein, it is desired to be understood that the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrically operated cradle comprising: a platform; wheel axles supporting said platform; wheels supporting said axles; end members arising from said platform; pivot studs supported by said end members; a cradle box rockingly suspended from said pivot studs; a motor carried by said platform; a crank pin rotated by said motor; a first drive shaft; a crank lever secured to said first drive shaft; a connecting rod extending between said crank pin and said crank lever for oscillating the said drive shaft; 2. first countershaft in axial alignment with said first drive shaft; a clutch device connecting said first drive and countershafts and transmitting motion from said first drive shaft to said first countershaft; means interconnecting and transmitting oscillating movement from said first countershaft to said cradle box for rocking the latter back and forth; a second drive shaft; a second countershaft in axial alignment with said second drive shaft; a second clutch device positioned between said second drive shaft and said second countershaft; and means interconnecting and transmitting oscillating movements from said second countershaft to one of said axles to rotate said wheels back and forth.

2. An electrically operated cradle as described in claim 1 in which the means for transmitting oscillating movements to one of said axles comprises: a drive sprocket fixed on said second countershaft; a driven sprocket fixed on said axle; and a transmission chain connecting said sprockets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 821,219 Clow May 22, 1906 1,357,878 Lark Nov. 2, 1920 1,469,910 Jacobs Oct. 9, 1923 1,508,500 Bingen et a1. Sept. 16, 1924 1,662,754 Millard Mar. 13, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS 536,027 Germany Oct. 17, 1931 

